The East remains tight enough that April 2 can move multiple teams at once.
Why this is real news today
NHL.com's March 31 playoff-buzz update says the Eastern race is still crowded. Thursday puts Buffalo-Ottawa, Philadelphia-Detroit and Carolina-Columbus into the same evening block, so the swing value is immediate.
Market angle
When several cut-line games overlap, closing movement can spill from one rink to the next. That is exactly the kind of board where confirmed goalie news and line combos matter most.
Related reading
For the Finland-focused version, see Kerroinkuningas.